While phones and social media occupy a large part of teenagers’ lives, Kamila Dunda from Elbasan has chosen to devote her time to reading. The 16-year-old says she has finished around 600 books so far, a passion that began in early childhood, when her mother read poems to her before she learned to read herself.

“My journey with books began before I even knew how to read. My mother used to read poems to me, and I think that strong bond with books began when I was a baby,” she said.

For Kamila, books are not simply written pages, but opportunities to experience different stories, worlds and lives. She says that through authors’ narratives, she has encountered many experiences that, at the age of 16, she would not have had in real life.

“I would not have encountered as many experiences as I have through the stories written by other people.”

Reading has also influenced her personal and academic development. According to the 16-year-old, books have enriched her vocabulary, strengthened her critical thinking and helped her express herself more freely, which has also been reflected in her results as an outstanding student.

“Books hold a very special place in my heart because I think that, besides developing my imagination, they have also helped me become a better student by expanding my vocabulary, developing my critical-thinking skills and enabling me to express myself more freely, without getting stuck or having to pause in the middle of sentences,” she added.

Building a physical collection of 600 books is not easy, particularly because of the financial cost. For this reason, Kamila has chosen to read most of them electronically, downloading them online to her phone.

“It is financially difficult to obtain 600 physical books. I download them online and read them on my phone.”

She acknowledges that, like any other teenager, she also spends time on social media. However, her passion for books continually draws her back to reading. Kamila believes technology should not be seen as an enemy of books, as it can be used as a tool for personal development.

“I do not want to say that I am perfect. I waste time on social media too. But when you have a passion, you are automatically drawn to it. We can use technology for something that helps us grow.”

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